Fountain type soldering iron



Jun 4, 1940. T. H. HALLWOOD 2,203,299

FOUNTAIN TYPE SGLDERING IRON Filed Jan. l5, 1938 www Tofrzasfallwd :i5/ysolder, will be unable to formed in accordance Patented June 4, 1940UNITED STATES4 PATENT oFElcE 5 Claims.

This invention relates to soldering iro-ns and is particularly directedto an electrically heated,`

self-feeding or fountain type iron. The primary object of the presentinvention resides in the provision of a soldering iron having a handleportion and a body portion, the latter including a copper soldering tipin which is formed a longitudinally extending bore. This borecommunicates at its inner end with `a reservoir Ifor the solder, anelectrically energized heating element surrounding the reservoir andacting to heat the tip and to maintain the solder in the reservoir inmolten state during use of the iron.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a port in the body ofthe iron through which solder is inserted r fed into the reservoir,there being a valve for closing the port between the feeding operations.This valve is provided with an operating extensionl conveniently locatednear the ,handle within easy reach of the users lingers. A furtherobject resides in providing a valve for controlling the iiow of moltensolder through the bore in the tip. This valve is formed on one end of arod which extends through' the longitudinal center of the iron and isprovided at the other end with a knob by means of which the valve may beadjusted toward or away from the seat in the tip to control the flow ofsolder.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a sleeve toreceive the Valve rod, the said p sleeve being secured to the rear wallof the reservoir and extending into the reservoir substantially the fulllength thereof to the end that when the iron is held with the tipelevated, the molten flow out through the sleeve and burn the user ofthe iron. The sleeve `extends through the handle portion of thesoldering iron and is provided at the rear endwith screw-threads toreceive a special nut which serves to hold the handle and the body .inassembled relationship. 1

Fora further understanding of the invention, attention is directed tothe following Adescription and the accompanying drawing which shows asoldering iron constructed in accordancewith the invention.

In the drawing: l Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a soldering iron withthe present invention; 1

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectionalvview ofV the body of the iron shownin Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a similar view of the of the iron;

Fig. 4 is a handle I portion detail longitudinal sectional View planeindicated by the line vide for the flow of (Cl. 21S-Z7) showing thereservoir feeding port, the control valve for the feed port and themanual actuating member 'for the feed control valve;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view on the V-V of Fig. 4. Referringmore particularly to the drawing, the soldering iron disclosed thereinis indicated in its entirety by the numeral I. This iron is formed toinclude a body portion 2 and a handle section 3, these parts being heldin spaced relation by a tubular casing Il. At the forward end,

- the portion 2 is provided with a soldering tip 5 which is formed, asusual, from copper and tapers to a point 6 at the front end thereof. Therear end of the tip 5 is reduced as at 1 andl provided with screwthreads to receive an 'internally threaded end of a tubular member 8.The rear end of the member 8 is also internally threaded' to receive athreaded boss 9 formed on a circular wall member I, the tubular member.8,

the reduced rear end of the tip and the wall-y member I@ combining toforma closed reservoir l I for the retention of a body of solder. Toprosolder from the reservoir to the working extremity of the tool, thetip 5 is provided with a bore I2 extending centrally thereof from thepoint 6 to the rear face of the reduced rear end ofthe tip. The rear endof the bore I2 is enlarged as at I3 to reduce' the length of therestricted portion of 'the bore.

Heat to` melt the solder inthe reservoir and raise the tip 5 to asoldering temperature is provided by an electrically energized .elementI4 which is coiled around and electrically insulated from the tube 8. Aheat insulating sleeve I5 surrounds the element I4 and afinishing-casing l I6 is disposed around the latter. I, The insulationI5 is provided to protect the liinish of the casing I6 as well las toretain the heat Ywithin the iron body and raise the temperature of thelreservoir. The member 8 conducts'heat from the element I4 to the tip 5to keep the latter ata working temperature during use of the tool.

To introduce fresh solder to the-reservoir, the wall member I0 is formedwith al port I1 which extends from the front to the rear wall thereof. Athreaded bore I8 intersects the port I1 and receives a similarlythreaded hollow screw ,I9 through which a solder rod 20 is inserted tothe port I'I. The iinishing casing I6 and the insulating sleeve I5 haveregistering openings to permit the screw Il)l I8, the screw also servingto secure these members in place on the body. A valve rod 2|, slidablyreceived by the port I 1,'serves to be threaded into the bore' to closethe 56 use of the iron.

A second opening is formed at the center of the wall member I and anelongated sleeve 22 is secured therein by a welding operation. One endof the sleeve 22 projects into the reservoir IAI, extendingsubstantially the full length thereof while the other end of the sleeveextends through the handle section of the iron and is provided withscrew threads 23. A nut member 24 having internal threads is positionedon the end of the sleeve, the inner end of the nut engaging the rear endof a turned wood hand grip 25. 'Ihe forward end of the hand grip isprovided with van enlarged bore 26 to receive the end of the tubularspacer 4, the opposite end of the spacer engaging a shoulder formed on aheat insulating washer 21 disposed adjacent the wall member-I0.

-Secured to the sleeve 22 within the hand grip is a collar 28 which isprovided with an opening 28a in longitudinal registration with the portI'l and adapted to slidably receiveV the free end of the valve rod 2|.Prior to the insertion of the rod in the opening 28, a coil spring 29 ispositioned on the rod, this spring serving to hold the valve in a portclosing position between periods o1' active use. An actuating pin 30,carried by the rod 2l extends outwardly through a slot 3| formed in thesleeve 4 where engaged by. the operators iingers.

To control the iiow of solder fromthe reservoir, a tapered valve 32 isprovided in registration with the inner end of the bore in the tipS.'Ihis valve is provided on the inner end of a rod 33 which extendslongitudinally through the sleeve 22. The outer end of the rod isthreaded as at 34 for cooperation with similar threads formed in thecentral bore of the nut member 24. The exposed end of the rod carries aknurled head 35, the rotation of which will move the rod longitudinallyof the sleeve' and the tapered valve toward or away from the seat formedby the shoulder at the` I2. If the valve engages e the shoulder, ow ofmolten solder will be stopped. Y

inner end of the bore Flow will again benestablished by moving the valveaway from the seat. By restricting the size of the bore l2, solder onlyow when the work is'put in condition by the application oi a iiux forthis purpose.

Through-the provision of the sleeve in the reservoir, solder will beunable to ow around thehvalve rod and out of the handle when the pointof the iron is elevated.

A current conducting cable 36 extends from the heating element, throughthe spacer 4, the

vhand grip 25 and out through the nut 24, the

outer ends of the cables being usual plug 31 for connection ply outlet.

While I have shown and described only Va single embodiment of theinvention, it is understood that changes in .various parts and theirassembly may be made and I reserve the right to all such variations asmay b e s'aidto fall within the scope of the appended claims..Whatisclaimedis:

1. A soldering iron having a body portion and a handle portion, saidbody portion including a soldering tip having a central bore,V a tubularsleeve secured to said tip, a wall member closing provided with the witha current supthe open end of said sleeve to form a reservoirv therein,the bore in said tip communicating with said reservoir, means forfeeding solder to said it may be easily which -solder is fed to Y rearwall of said other end of said by said wall member and having one endprojecting into said reservar, the other .end of said tube extendingthrough said handle portion and having. threads provided thereon, anutreceived by the threads on said tube and serving to secure the body andhandle portions of said iron in assembled relationship,.and a rod with adiameter conforming substantially to the interior diameter of said tubeand adjustable longitudinally therein, the inner end of said rod beingtapered and engaging the edge of the bore in said tip to control the owof molten solder from said reservoir.

2: A soldering iron having a body section and a handle section, saidbody section includng a soldering tip provided with a reduced bore ex.tending from the inner to thev outer end thereof,

a tubular body secured to the rearv end of said Y tip, awall membersecured to the open rear end of said sleeve to form a closed reservoir,an elecpressed rod extending longitudinaly of said iron,

an actuating member carried by said rod adjacent said handle section, asleeve carried by said wall member and having lone end projecting intosaidA -reservoir substantially to said tip, the other end of -saidsleeve extending through the handle sec'- tion, a threaded securingelement carried by the Y end of said sleeve and engaging the rear end ofsaid handle section to secure the same to said body section, a valve rodextending through said sleeve, thev inner tapered end of said rod being'disposed adjacent the inner end of the bore in said tip, and means formoving said valve rod.

longitudinally of said sleeve.

Y 3. A soldering iron comprising a body portion having a'soldering tipprovided with a central bore, a tubular sleeve secured at one end to therear portionof said tip, a wall member connected to the opposite end ofsaid sleeve to provide a reservoir, the bore in said tip communicatingtherewith, means for introducing solder into said reservoir, a tubesecured atits intermediate portion to said wall member, one end portionof said tubeA projecting into said reservoir and terminating a limiteddistance from said tip, a handle surrounding the other end portion ofsaid tube, a sleeve-like-shell disposed between said handle and saidbody portion, said shell and handle being spaced from said tube, a nutpositioned on` the "outer end of said tube -to hold said handle andshell in assembled relation to said body portion, a valve rod extendingthrough said tube, the inner end of said rod being formed for engagementwith the edge of the bore in said tip, and means provided at the outerend ing longitudinal movement thereto relative to said tube. Il

4. A soldering iron comprising a hollow body having la soldering tip tipbeing formed with energized heating elementsurrounding said body, meansfor introducing solder into said body', a tube secured at itsintermediate portion to the jecting into said body and terminating ashort distance from said ti a handle surrounding the tioned between saidshell and handle being spaced from said tube, a

member engaging the ounerend or said tube and of said rod for imparty'6.0

at the forward end, said a reduced bore through the work, anelectrically`- body, oneend of said tube pro- 7,0

tube, a sleeve-like shell posi-l y handle and said body, said y whichsolder is means for introducing solder into said body. a-

tube secured at its intermediate portion to the rear wall of saidbody,`one end of said tube projecting into said body and. terminating ashort distance from said tip, the rear wall of said body having es forthe introduction of solder into said body, a valve rod having one endmovably positioned in one of said passages to control the iiow of moltensolder therethrough, said rod extending from the rear wall in parallelrelation to said tube, a sleeve-like shell surrounding said `rod andtube, a handle surrounding said rodgand tube, said shell and handlebeing spaced from said rod and tube, a member connected with said tubefor holding said shell and handle in assembled relationship to saidhead, an actuating member connected with said valve rod adjacent to saidhandle, a valve stem extending through said tube, and means disposed atthe outer end of said handle for adjusting said valve stem relative tosaid tube to vary the u spacing of the inner end from said tip.

' THOMAS H. HALLwooD.y

